Being disciplined when it comes to money is a challenge, but a new year is the perfect time for a reset. Developing new financial habits is easier if you take things one day at a time and allow yourself to grow into them — and give yourself some time.
“Humans are wired to prioritize immediate satisfaction over long-term rewards — it’s a phenomenon called ‘hyperbolic discounting,'” said Jack Howard, head of money wellness at Ally. “Today’s digital world makes that even easier with click-and-buy technology and mindless scrolling that feeds impulsive shopping habits.”
You won’t conquer all your money goals at once, and putting too much pressure on yourself to reach lofty expectations may do more harm than good. So, in 2026, take it one step at a time. Here are nine ways to actually stick to your money resolutions this year.
1. Confront Your Money Stressors
Howard recommended being aware of how much money you are spending and finding out why.
“Common reasons range from FOMO or social pressure to keep up with trends to small triggers like ‘treating yourself’ after a rough week,” she said. “If you are overspending, explore where you learned this behavior and dig for the root issue behind the spending.”
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2. Create a Plan for Finances Moving Forward
According to Howard, a good way to do this is to start practicing conscious spending.
“This refers to spending extravagantly on things you want and cutting mercilessly on everything else,” she explained. “This works best when you have a practical budget to reference, helping you prioritize purchases to avoid feeling guilty about spending.”
3. Create a List Before You Go Shopping and Stick To It
Consider making a list before going shopping and not deviating from it to save some money and avoid impulse purchases.
“If you come across a sale either online or in-store, ask yourself if the item is on your shopping list,” Howard said. “Be wary of shopping for fun in your downtime when there isn’t an item you need.”
4. Reflect on Your Purchases Before You Buy
Another common shopping tactic is to wait and reflect on any purchases before you actually buy.
“Ask yourself, how will you feel about this purchase in three, six or nine months from now,” Howard explained. “I often implement the ’48-hour rule’ where I sit on purchasing an item for a full two days before I follow through with buying it. This small window of time helps you decide if you really want or need the item.”
5. Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
Howard said that when you compare your experiences to those of others, you can lose sight of your values and overspend.
“According to the book ‘Wellbeing’ by Tom Rath and Jim Harter, if you’re feeling pressured to buy things in order to ‘keep up’ with others, you may want to give more attention to your social and career well-being,” she said.
6. Use Budgeting Apps or Tools
Howard said that budgeting apps or tools offered by your bank can help you stick to your money resolutions. One tool you could consider is Ally’s buckets tool, which allows you to visually keep tabs on savings for necessities, fun and emergency funds.
“These digital tools also make it easier to stay motivated with alerts, reminders and automatic transfers so you can make progress without overthinking it,” she said.
7. Automate Savings or Investments
Howard said that sometimes, your biggest enemy is yourself when it comes to managing money, and automating deposits can help solve the problem.
“Slow and steady wins the race for goals like a down payment or retirement, but really, the sooner you start, the better,” she explained. “By intentionally making space for the future in your budget, you will develop important habits — and accrue some interest — that your future self will thank you for.”
8. Share Your Money Goals
Sharing your money goals with others is a great way to keep you accountable and motivated.
“It can feel vulnerable at the time, but sharing your money goals with someone you trust not only helps keep you accountable but also tends to make you more motivated,” Howard said. “This looks different for everyone. Some people might prefer weekly or quarterly check-ins with their partner, while others may be looking for more traditional support from a financial advisor.”
9. Identify Your ‘Why’
Howard explained that managing your finances isn’t only about budgeting skills. It’s also about the psychology, behaviors and emotions that are tied to money.
“That can include how your family did — or didn’t — discuss finances growing up, misconceptions and traditions society teaches us, or mindless scrolling through social feeds that urge us to keep up with what we see online,” she explained.
Howard suggested taking a moment to reflect on the past year and identify the moments that resulted in the most joy, allowed you to lean into your passion or genuinely inspired you.
“To make those financial resolutions more achievable, move from ‘what’ and identify your ‘why’,” she said. “Each individual’s ‘why’ is different, but by grounding the resolution in your values — rather than job security, family or a host of other factors — you are more likely to stick to it.”
Howard suggested making those things a reality once you understand your motivations. She encouraged everyone to visualize what their dream life would look like in key well-being areas, including career, community, health, finances and relationships. Best of luck!
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Ways To Actually Stick To Your Money Resolutions in 2026
